Annette Dashofy is a highly accomplished American author, best known for her mystery novels. Raised in rural Pennsylvania, Dashofy has always been surrounded by cattle and horses, which has significantly influenced her writing. She developed a passion for reading and writing at a young age, and these activities often kept her occupied while she was not exploring the family farm.
After high school, Dashofy worked as an EMT for five years, where she gained invaluable experience dealing with various situations, from handling drunks on sidewalks to managing mangled bodies from car accidents. This experience has added authenticity to her writing, particularly in her Zoe Chambers series, which features a paramedic and deputy coroner in rural Pennsylvania's Vance Township. The series has been nominated for multiple Agatha Awards, and its first book, Circle of Influence, was published in 2014.
Dashofy's writing is informed by her experiences growing up in rural Pennsylvania, and her deep connection to the land and its people is evident in her work. She currently lives with her husband and their spoiled cat on property that once belonged to her grandfather. Her latest novel, Helpless, the twelfth book in the Zoe Chambers series, was released in May 2023. Additionally, she has recently launched a new Detective Honeywell mystery series, with the first book, Where the Guilty Hide, released in January 2023, and the second book, Keep Your Family Close, coming in December. Dashofy's standalone novel, Death by Equine, won the 2021 Dr. Tony Ryan Book Award.